Laugier-Hunziker-Baran syndrome

Abstract

Objective: Laugier-Hunziker-Baran syndrome represents a rare acquired pigmentary disorder which has no relevance to internal disorders and has no familial association. There are few reports on histopathologic studies of this syndrome concerning Japanese individuals. The differential diagnosis of oral and pigmented lesions between Laugier-Hunziker-Baran syndrome and other disorders, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in particular, requires our utmost consideration.

Study design: Biopsy specimens of 2 cases were taken from pigmented maculae on the lower lips, buccal mucosa, tongue, and palate.

Results: Similar histopathologic findings were observed for all locations. The histopathologic examination showed that there was an accumulation of melanin in the basal layer as well as an increase in the number of melanophages in the subepithelial area.

Conclusions: Oral scientists and clinicians must be familiar with Laugier-Hunziker-Baran syndrome, because this syndrome is probably more common than is generally recognized.